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					Originally Posted by spdrun  I would have taken other passengers' names as witnesses then pushed the issue. An arrest would require a local cop, which might have a different opinion, plus a jury would likely take a dim view of the situation.  (In a subsequent civil suit as well.)  No guns, but I have both lawyers and money.
 Lastly, the TSA is not allowed to confiscate most items that don't violate a law, only to prohibit flight with them.  Your friends could have walked back out of the checkpoint and mailed their phones to themselves.
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 Unfortunately, the stories come to me second hand so I have no way of verifying them.   The story came from a man who said one of his relatives had worked in the airline business for years.  He told me his phone was seized at the gate and when he raised a fuss, they threatened him with arrest.   Once they have your property in THEIR hands, there is no turning around and going to a mail drop.   Perhaps they have changed their rules (again) and are not confiscating items that don't violate a law.   
The luggage security locks are only one of many reasons I won't get on an airplane.   Flying on a cigar tube with panic prone people who have absolutely ZERO training in handling aircraft emergency procedures is not my idea of a good time........